Uniforms Plus on 17th Avenue in Wausau.

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Northcentral Technical College and other educational institutions churn out hundreds of graduates every year eager to get their start in the workplace. And for many of them, a first stop ó before walking into their new jobs ó is Uniforms Plus.

Nurses, cops, veterinary technicians and other professionals who need work clothes canít walk into a department store at the mall or a big-box retailer to get their duds. They need specialized gear, everything from combat boots and utility belts to surgical scrubs and anti-slip shoes.

Thatís where Uniforms Plus owner Brena Pierschalla takes over:

Question: What does your business do and why is it special?

Answer: We offer a large variety of uniforms including medical scrubs, chef wear, as well as clothing for law enforcement, security firms, and fire departments. We also supply bulk quantities of shirts for different businesses and organizations.

Q: Why have you chosen central Wisconsin as a place to do business?

A: It doesnít have a big city atmosphere and itís very family-oriented. Thatís important for myself and for a lot of my customers. They get the one-on-one that they need and weíre not so large that weíre out of touch with the customer. The smaller atmosphere also lets you get to know each customer on a personal level.

Q: Whatís your long-term vision for the company?

A: There are always new things out there so I donít know that you can really ever stop striving to do better. For me, I have to switch up our inventory day to day. You learn the most from the customers because they tell you what they like and can really educate you on whatís working for the business.

Q: What does your business bring to the local economy and community?

A: We have a lot of medical institutions in our community and thatís only going to grow. More people are being hired and trained to work in the medical field and we supply a lot of them with medical scrubs. They want to look and feel professional and we can help them do that.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who has an idea for a business but doesnít know where to start?

A: Owning your own business is not a nine-to-five job. Youíre there when you open, when you close and even in the middle of the night, youíre still taking care of that business and the people who work for you. You also need to know whatís going on in the business at all times. You canít hire someone to manage it for you and expect the business to keep running when youíre not there. I think thatís the downfall of a lot of businesses. You have to put the time in and be dedicated.